Connecting through memories: Watercress

Today’s picture book pick is…

Watercress

Written by Andrea Wang

Illustrated by Jason Chin

Published by Neal Porter Books in 2021.

Summary

One moment picking watercress by the side of the road opens up her family’s vault of memories and ultimately helps a girl find connection with her Chinese heritage.

First line

“We are in the old Pontiac, the red paint faded by years of glinting Ohio sun, pelting rain, and biting snow.”

Favorite line

“From the depths of the trunk, they unearth a brown paper bag, rusty scissors, and a longing for China.”

Wow, I am in awe of how much Andrea packed into so few words. What a masterful story! I felt all the emotional beats deep in the center of my heart: the excitement, the shame, the grief, and the understanding. The distance between the parents and children and then the connection. It’s a story that I’ll carry in my heart long after reading it.

The gorgeous illustrations by Jason Chin capture those beats with a subtlety that packs an emotional punch. I love his choice to contrast the present with the past across spreads: the watercress car moment vs their memories in China, the dinner table shame vs the hand me down memories, the family now vs the family then — with and without the brother. These contrasts leave me thoughtful about the power of memories in my present day life. They can create distance or connection depending on if they are shared.

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